Machine for use in making boxes



C. H. BOMBARDIE MACHINE FOR USE IN MAKING BOXES July 3l, 1923.

July 3l, 1923.

C. H. BOMBARDIE MACHINE FOR USE IN MAKING BOXES Filed Sept. 30 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll/ll,

Patented July 31, 1923.

UNITED STATES;

PATENT GFFICE.

CHARLES HENRY BOIBARDIE, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T0 WIBEBOUITDB PATENTS COMPANY, 0l' IITTEBY, mE, L CDBPORATION 0F ml.

HACHINE FOB USE IN MAKING BOXES.

Application med September 30, 1919. Serial Io. 887,891.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES Hmm!" BounAnnIE, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Chicago, county of Coo and I State of Illinois', have invented an Im rovement in Machines for Use in Making oxes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawin representing like parts.

y invention relates to machines for use in making boxes, crates or the like, and particularly to machines for use in making wirebound boxes, crates, blanks or parts thereof.

Among other objects, the invention is intended to provide improved means for feeding box parts and for positioning staples or fasteners by which said binding-wires are attached to said b ox parts and h which the box materials are secured to t er.

The invention will be described b reference to an illustrative embodiment s own in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 1s a longitudinal vertical section of a wire-boundbox blank machine embodying my invention, illustratin a finished box blank being delivered Afrom t e machine and assembled box sections for a succeeding blank being operated upon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged lan view of one of the conveyor chains an means for advancingrthe same.

ig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, in cross section of the two conveyor chains with blank materials thereon and the means for advancing said chains.

A box blank machine consists generally of a gang of bindin -wires applying and stapling mechanisms or wiring together box sections on a work support, the two being relatively movable for stapling the wires at intervals depending upon the progression of the work between successive operations of the sta lers.

In t e illustrative machine, the Staplers and associated mechanisms, one complete unit of which is shown in Fi 1, are relatively stationary in the side ames 1, and the work is supported and advanced by a conveyor 2 comprising link side chains appro riately formed to receive the cleats 3 oft e box sections, said chains running in guides 4 on supporting rails 5 and trained around the idler sprocket wheels 6 at both ends of the machine.

Cleats 3 and superposed sheets of side sheet material 7 composing box sections are assembled on the conveyor chains in mit relation to provide a box blank or lan the section of each blank bein held in proper position on the chains y spacer locks 8 attached at intervals on the side bars or lian s of individual chain links, as shown in ig. 3. As the work progresses beneath the Staplers, a luralit of continuous binding-wires- 11, rawn rom suitable supply reels, .not shown, are introduced in proper relation to the box sedions to be stapled thereto, the wires being led between the rollers 9 and thence under the rollers 10 at the feet of the stapler bodies and bein pulled along with the work by virtue o their attachment thereto at preceding oints. Certain of the wires aligned with t e box cleats are stapled through the sheets thereto, so as to connect such wires to both the sheets and cleats and secure the latter together' and intermediate wires are or may be sta led to the sheets alone and clinched on t eir under sides by co-action of the staple drivers with anvils 12 supported on the cross frame member 13.

The illustrated Staplers 14 are of the t disclosed in the atent to Thompson o. 1,258,625, dated rch 5, 1918, comprising staple ormers and drivers adapted at every operation to eut and form sta les from staple stock wire 15 fed thereto y rollers 16 and to drive same over the binding-wires into the work. Said staplers are mounted on the stationary cross-head 17 and actuated by the vertically reciprocating cross-head 18 working in guides 19 of the side frames 1, and operate by a pitman, not shown, from an eccentric, not shown, on the main shaft 20, there being a similar operating connection at either side of the machine. The feed rollers 16 for the staple stock wire are also operated from the main shaft by an eccentric and connecting rod working a pawl and ratchet device for rotating the rollers intermittently. The sta le wire feed mechanism is clearly illustra in said patent to Thompson above referred to and, therefore, is not shown in the accompanying drawin It will be understood that a staple is 'lll formed and driven at eve reciprocation of the cross-head 18, the stap e being driven on the downward stroke thereof while the material is momentarily at rest, the extent of movement of the material between the successive operations of the Staplers determinin the spacing between successive staples.

tep-hy-step movement is imparted to the conveyor by a regulable feed mechanism, the movements being automaticall controlled for positioning staples in desired relation on the work.

As illustrated, the feed mechanism comprises a pair of reciprocatinplates or bars 21 each constructed to slide orizontally in a channel 22 rigidly secured to the inner side of each supporting rail and carrying a series of ad'ustable pins or pawls 24 secured thereto in the bores 23 by set-screws 25, and adapted to successively engage a projection 26 carried by the rear spacerlock of each blank and advance the conveyor upon each reciprocation of the plates 21. The plates 21, their pins 24 and the mecha.- nisms for actuating them are identical so a description of one will sullice it bein understood that said plates 21 are duplicates of one another and operate synchronously.

As illustrated, each pin 24 is constructed with a beveled faced spring-pressed head which permits it to ass and snap in behind the projection 26 w en traveling in one direction, and to hold and carry the projection with it when trave in the other direction.

Reciprocating motion is imparted to incarrying plate 21 from an eccentric on the main shaft through a connecting rod 28 pivotall connected to plate* 21 at 29. Thus the ate 21 is constantly reciprocated horizon y in the channel 22 and upon each reci rocation one of the pins 24 snaps in behin projection 26 and upon its return or driving movement engages said projection and advances the conveyor. The extent of each movement of the conveyor is verned by the amount of lost motion w 'ch intervenes after a pin 24 has passed the projection 26 and until it engages the pro- ]ection on its drive stroke. In other words; the further the pin 24 travels beyond the rojection on its inoperative stroke the furt er it will have to travel back to enaie the projection on its drive stroke an t e shorter will be the movement of the conveyor, and vice versa. Thus the distance between pins 24, determines the extent of movement of the conveyor.

As many pins 24 are set in the plate 21 as there are staples to be driven into a box blank and are spaced apart the desired distance between staples As represented in Figs. 1 and 2 the machine is operating upon blanks of four sections of alternate widths, there being fourteen staples per blank, three on the narrow and four on the wide sections,

and the plate 21 accordingly contains four teen pins spaced apart distances equal to the desired distances between staples. As illustrated in 2, the plate 21 has just iinishidhiti first rfilve strolzai1 iii a new blank, an t e rst pin esignat en projection 26 has advanced the blanatlogposition to receive the first staple at the int S. While the staple is being driven e plate 21 will carry the second pin desi ated B to the right beyond projection 26. pon its return movement to the left in B will engage the .projection 26 and a vance the conveyor a istance eual to the distance between ins A. and and locate the second staple in the blank a corresponding distance from the first sta le. Each pin in succession will enga projection 26 and advance the work a distance equal to the distance between the engaging pin and its redecessor. After the last pin, es'gnated in Fig. 2, has engaged and advanced the conveyor the iii-st pin A will on the next reciprocation of the bar 21 eng the protection 26 on the rear spacer bloc 8 of the following blank. If the space provided between successive blanks is greater than the maximum throw of the pin-carryin plate one or more pins 24 may be inse in the plate 21 to advance the convlor the required distance to bring each bla to fastener-receiving position.

Thus the work is advanced variable distances intermittently to present sel fastener-receiving points in fastener-receiving position, the location of the pins 24 on the plate 21 determining the location of the fasteners in the work.

While the machine, as illustrated, is operating upon a blank with fourteen staples and, therefore, has fourteen pins set in the plate 21, it is obvious that the plate 21 may contain more or less than fourteen pins for operation on blanks having more or less than fourteen staples; and while in the machine, as illustrated, the pins 24 engage a nroiection 26 carried by the rear spacer block of each blank, it will be understood that said projection may be located .at any point along the blank correlated with the relative positions of the stapling mechanism and the feed plate so that the first pin of the pattern will advance the first fastenerreceiving point on a box blank to fastenerreceiving position.

It will also be understood` that the pins 24 need not necessarily be set in bores in the feed chains but may be clam d at selected ints thereon in any suitab e manner.

It will be noted that the feed mechanism here described comprises a series of adjustable driving pawls acting in succession on a single lug in the nature of a ratchet tooth having connection with and definitely re lated to the work to be advanced.

Lacasse It will also be noted that the ins 24 of the plate 21 constitute a pattern or the lo# cation of staples in a blank and that without adjustment said pattern of .ins will operate continuously on succee ing box b anks to locate staples in each according to said atterri.

It w' be obvious that the pattern of pins 24 ma be set for a unit or series of units of work ess than a blank, for instance, a seption or a series of sections of ablank, or said pattern may be set for a series of blanks and will operate without interruption on a succession of units or series of units or series of blanks as the case may be, locating staples in each according to the pattern.

If desirable an automatically operable brake may be rovided to prevent possible overthrow of t e feed chains at the termination of a feed` movement. Such a brake is shown, for exam le in application of S. F. Bauwens, Seria umber 284,332, filed March 22, 1919.

As the work leaves the stapling mechanism the finished blanks may be stri d from the conveyor chains onto the inc ined table 35 and the wires connecting the blanks may be severed by any approved cutting mechanism pro rly time Obvious y the invention is ,not restricted to any particular 4structural details or mode of operation or to any particularitype of wirebound box or blank construction. Furthermore, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since thc may be used t0 advantage in various diierent combinations and subcombinations.

Having described one illustrative embodiment of the invention without limitin the same thereto, what I claim as new an desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. 4A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means including fastener-setting mechanism for applying binding wire to box parts; work-en aging means; and a series of feeding mem rs successively acting propulsively on the workengaging means to cause relative movement between said mechanism and the work in controlled steps of varied lengths whereby the fasteners are driven into the work at predetermined selected points.

2. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means including fastener-setting mechanism for applying binding wire to box parts; a member having connection with the work and movable therewith; and means for causing relative progression between said mechanism and the work in controlled steps of varied lengths comprising an actuator having a seriesof feeding members each adapted to separately propulsively engage said member.

3. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means including fastener-setting mechanism for applying binding Wire to box parts; a member having connection with the work; and means for causing relative progression between said mechanism and the work in controlled steps of varied lengths comprising an actuator having a series of feeding members each adapted in turn to propulsively engage said member.

4. A machine for use in makin boxes comprising, in combination relative y movable work-supporting and bindin wireap plying means; a member carried y one of said means; and means to cause relative progression between said work-supporting means and said bindin -wire-applying means in controlled steps o varied len lis V comprising a series of feeding mem rs adapted to successively propulsively' engage said first mentioned mem r.

5. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means including fastener-setting mechanism for applying binding-wire to box parts; a work-engaging member; and means for causing relative progression between said mechanism and the work in controlled steps of varied lengths, comprising a series of adjustable driving members acting successlvely on said workengaging member. A

6. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means including fastener-setting mechanism for a plying binding-wire to box parts; a wor -engaging member movable With the work; and means for causing relative progression between said mechanism and the work comprising a atterri of selectivel s need driving mem rs actin sucoessivey on said work-engaging mem er to advance the work variable distances according to said pattern.

7. A, machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means including fastener setting mechanism for applying binding wire to box parts; work-forwarding means; means for causing relative progression between said mechanism and the workforwardin means in controlled steps of varied lengt s, comrising a series of adjustable driving paw acting successively on a single ratchet tooth having connection with the work-forwarding means.

8. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means including fastener setting mechanism for applyiing binding wire to box parts; work-forwarding means; and means for causing relative progression between said mechanism and the work in controlled steps of varied lengths, comprising a reciprocatin feeding plate having a series of adjustab e pawls adapted successively to engage propulsively the work-forwarding means.

9. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, a conveyor for the box materials; fastener-applying mechanism; and feeding means to advance the conveyor intermittently in controlled steps of varied lengths com rising a series of reciprocating feed mem rs yaida. ted to successively propulsively engage t e conveyor.

10. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, a work support; fastener-setting mechanism; a. member movable with the work and mechanism to present selected fastenerreceiving oints on the work to fastener-receiving position comprising, an actuator having a series of feed members relativel spaced according to said pattern of selectedl fastener-receiving points and adapted to successively engage said first mentioned member to advance said oints successively to fastener-receiving position.

11. In a box blank machine comprising work-forwardin means and fastener-setting means, mec anism to ition said fasteners in the work, comprising an actuator carrying an adjustable pattern of feed members corres nding to the number of fasteners in a x blank, said members adapted successively to engage the work-forwarding means and advance the same variable selected distances intermittently.

12. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, a Work support, fastener-setting mechanism; a member having connection with the work and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work in steps of controlled length com risin an actuator having a series of seective v spacedeeding members each adapted in turn to propulsively engage said member.

13. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, a work support, fastener-setting mechanism; a member having connection with the work; and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work in steps of controlled len h to locate fasteners at desired Eoints in t e work comprising an actuator aving a series of feed members spaced apart variable distances corresponding to the desired length of feed steps and each adapted in turn to propulsively engage said member.

14. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, a work support; fastener-setting mechanism for applying fasteners to the work; a work-engaging member; means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work in controlled steps of varied lengths comprising a series of selectively spaced feeding members adapted to successively pro ulsively engage said worlcengaging mem cr; and a common actuating means for said feeding members.

15. A machine for u`se in making box blanks com rising, in combination, a work support; astener-setting mechanism; a member havin connection with the work and movable t erewith; and means to cause relative rogression between said mechanis'm and) the work in steps of controlled len h to locate fasteners at desired points in t e work, comprising an actuator having a series of selectively spaced feed members correspondin to the number of fasteners to be driven into a blank and each adapted in turn to propulsively engage said member and advance the same a distance corresponding to the distance between the engaging member and its predecessor.

16. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, a work support; fastener-setting mechanism; a member having connection with the work and movable therewith; and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work in controlled steps of varied lengths, comprising a. reciprocating actuator having a series of selectively spaced members adjustably secured thereto and each in turn adapted on reciprocation of the actuator in one direction to propulsively engage said member and advance the same to the position occupied by the engaging member before the recprocation of the actuator in the other direction.

17. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, a work suprt; fastener-setting mechanism; a memer having connection with the work and movable therewith and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work in controlled steps of varied lengths, comprising a constantly reciprocating actuator, having a series of selectively spaced feed members adjustably secured thereto at selected points relative to the fastenersetting mechanism and each in turn adapted on movement of the actuator in one direction to propulsively engage said member and advance the same to the position occupied by the engaging feed member relative to the fastener-setting mechanism.

18. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, a work suport; fastener-setting mechanism; a memlier having connection with the work; and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work, comprising a reciprocating actuator, having a series of feed members adjustably secured thereto at selected pointsV relative to each other and the fastener-setting mechanism and each in turn adapted to propulsively engage said member and advance the work toward the fastenersetting mechanism in controlled steps corresponding to the distance between said feed members.

19. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, a worksup port; fastener-setting mechanism; a member having connection with the work; and means to cause relative progression between said mechanism and the work in steps of controlled length to automatically locate fasteners in the work at predetermined selected points, comprising a reciprocating actuator carrying a series of selectively spaced feeding. members each adapted inturn on successive reciprocations of the actuator to propulsively engage said member.

20. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, an endless chain conveyor for the box materials; spacer blocks on said conveyor; stapling mechanism to drive staples into the work; and means to advance said conveyor to said mechanism in steps of controlled length comprising a reciprocating plate, and a series of selectively spaced pawls secured thereto each ad-apted in turn on successive reciprocations of said plate to propulsively engage a spacer block.

21. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means for applying binding wire to box parts; workengaging means; mechanism to cause relative progression between said binding-wireapplying means and the work in steps of controlled length to locate fasteners where desired in the work com rising a pattern of selectively spaced fee members corresponding in number to the number of fasteners in a unit of work, said members being adapted successively to engage propulsively the work-engagin means and advance the work variable stances according to said pattern.

22. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means for applying binding wire to box parte; work engaging means; mechanism to cause relative progression between said binding-wireapplying means and the work in steps of controlled length to locate fasteners where desired in the work com rising a pattern.

of selectively spaced fee members corresponding in number to the number of fasteners in a series of units of work, said members being adapted successively to enga e propulsively the work-en aging means an advance the work varia le distances according to said pattern.

23. A machine for use in making boxes comprising in combination, means for applying binding wire to box parts; workengaging means; mechanism to cause relative progression between said binding-wire-applying means and the work in steps of controlled length to locate fasteners where desired in the work comprising a pattern of selectively spaced feed members correspond in in number to the number of fasteners in a. ox blank, saidv members being adapted successively to engage propulsively the Work-engaging means and advance the work variable distances according to said pattern.

24. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means for applying binding wire to box parts; work-engaging means; mechanism to cause relative progression between said binding-wire-applyin means and the work in steps of controlle length to locate fasteners where desired in the Work comprising a pattern of selectively spaced feed members corresponding in number to the number of fasteners in a series of box blanks, said members being adapted successively to engage propulsively the work-engaging means and advance the work variable distances according to said pattern.

25. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means for applying binding wire to box parts; work-engaging means; mechanism to cause relative progression between said bindingwireap plying means and the work in steps of controlled length to locate fasteners where desired in the work comprising a pattern of selectively spaced feed members corresponds ing in number to the number of fasteners in a unit of work, said members bein adapted successively to engage propulsively the work-engaging means and advance the work variable distances according to said pattern said pattern of feed members being adapted to operate without interruption on a succession of units of work locating fasteners in each according to said pattern.

26. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means for applying binding wire to box parts; Work-engaging means; mechanism to cause relative progression between said binding-wire-applying means and the work in steps of controlled length to locate fasteners where desired in the work comprising a pattern of selectively spaced feed members corresponding in number to the number of fasteners in a series of units of work, said members being adapted successively to engage propulsively the work-engaging means and advance the Work variable distances according to said pattern, said pattern of feed members being adapted to operate without interruption on a succession of series of units of work locating fasteners in each series according to said pattern.

27. A machine for use in making boxes comprising, in combination, means for applying binding wire to box parts; work-engaging means; mechanism to cause relative progression between said binding-wireapplymg means and the work in steps of controlled length to locate fasteners where desired in the work comprising a pattern of selectively spaced feed members corresponding in number to the number of fasteners in a box blank, said members being adapted sired in the work comprising a pattern of successively to engage propulslvely the selectively spaced feed members correspondwork-engaging means and advance the work ing in number to tbe number of fasteners in variable distances according to said pattern, a. series of box blanks, said members being 5 said pattern of feed members being adapted adapted successively to engage propulsively 20 to operate without interruption on a succesthe work-en aging means and advance the sion of box blanks locating fasteners in each work variab e distances according to said according to said attern. pattern, said pattern of feed members being 28. A machine or use in making boxes adapted to operate without interruption on l0 comprising in combination, means or apa succession of series of box blanks locati 25 plying bin ing wire to box parts; work-enfasteners in each series according to sai gaging means; mechanism to cause relative pattern. pro ssion between said binding-wire-ap- In testimony whereof, I `have signed my plying means and the work in steps of conname to this specification.

15 trolled length to locate fasteners where de- CHARLES HENRY BOMBARDIE. 

